Rebecca Gasper

Research Associate, U.S. Climate Initiative

Bio

Rebecca Gasper is a Research Associate in WRI’s Climate and Energy Program. She supports WRI’s efforts with U.S. states and U.S. federal agencies as they work together and in parallel to develop programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Before joining WRI, Rebecca worked at the Center for Integrative Research (CIER) at the University of Maryland. She worked primarily on climate change mitigation and adaptation at regional and international levels. She also has experience supporting state efforts to develop water quality markets.

Rebecca holds a B.S. in biology from Syracuse University and an M.P.P with an environmental policy specialization from the University of Maryland.

Blog Posts

Timeline: Trump’s 100 Days of Rollbacks to Climate Action
by Rebecca Gasper - April 26, 2017
In the 100 days since President Donald Trump took office, his administration has embarked on an all-out assault on the environment. A new timeline documents rollbacks, budget cuts and more.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Energy Institute Misleads on Climate Action Costs: 3 Things to Know
by Noah Kaufman, Rebecca Gasper and Kristin Igusky - April 26, 2017
A recent article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy uses a NERA Economic Consulting study as evidence that meeting U.S. climate change commitments will cause economic hardship, particularly in the manufacturing sector. WRI researchers found that the Chamber’s conclusions are based on a decarbonization pathway that is unrealistic and unnecessarily costly.
A Deeper Look at Trump’s Climate Action “Sledgehammer”
by Kristin Igusky and Rebecca Gasper - March 29, 2017
President Donald Trump's latest executive order aims to roll back many of the core elements of U.S. climate strategy, a move that threatens America's health and the country's economic prosperity. Here are details of the order's major provisions and their potential impact.
3 Steps Wisconsin Can Take To Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets
by Rebecca Gasper and Kristin Igusky - May 11, 2016
New WRI analysis shows that Wisconsin can reduce its power sector emissions 21 percent below 2012 levels by 2030 just by following through on existing clean energy policies and making more efficient use of power plants. With a few additional steps, the state can far exceed the emissions reductions required by the Clean Power Plan.
With New Joint Announcement with Canada, US Gets Serious About Cutting Methane Emissions
by Rebecca Gasper and Max Frankel - March 11, 2016
A new U.S.-Canada joint will cut methane emissions from oil and gas systems by 40-45 percent below 2012 levels by 2025. It's a big step toward meeting both countries' climate goals—methane is a greenhouse gas 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
3 Steps Missouri Can Take to Meet its Clean Power Plan Targets
by Rebecca Gasper and Kristin Igusky - January 07, 2016
WRI’s fact sheet series, How States Can Meet Their Clean Power Plan Targets, examines the ways states can meet or even exceed their standards under the Clean Power Plan while minimizing compliance costs, ensuring reliability, and harnessing economic opportunities....
4 Steps Michigan Can Take To Exceed Its Clean Power Plan Targets
by Rebecca Gasper - January 05, 2016
WRI’s fact sheet series, How States Can Meet Their Clean Power Plan Targets, examines the ways states can meet or even exceed their standards under the CPP while minimizing compliance costs, ensuring reliability, and harnessing economic opportunities. This post...
Pennsylvania Can Meet Clean Power Plan Targets in 3 Steps
by Kristin Igusky and Rebecca Gasper - November 04, 2015
Under the U.S. Clean Power Plan, Pennsylvania must reduce power sector emissions by 24-25 percent below 2012 levels by 2030. New analysis shows the state's existing clean energy policies and opportunities to make better use of existing power plans could get it more than halfway to that emissions target.
3 Steps Virginia Can Take to Meet—and Then Exceed—its Clean Power Plan Targets
by Kristin Igusky and Rebecca Gasper - October 06, 2015
The new U.S. Clean Power Plan requires Virginia to reduce its power sector emissions by 23 percent below 2012 levels by 2030. New analysis shows the state could go even further and harness economic opportunity at the same time.
How Does the Clean Power Plan Help US Meet its Climate Targets?
by Kristin Igusky and Rebecca Gasper - August 05, 2015
The final Clean Power Plan is an important step for the United States to meet its 2020 and 2025 emissions-reduction targets, but the nation will need additional steps that continue accelerating these trends in the power sector and across the economy to achieve its goals.